Player-piano pneumatic.



C. H. SPENCER. PLAYER PIANO PNEUMATIC. APPLICATION FILED SEPT: 19, 19!?-Patented Mar. 25, 1919. 1

' a comparatively UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES H. SPENCER, OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND, ASSIGNOR T0 HENRY S.

OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND.

DULANEY,

.PLAYER-PIANO PNEUMATIC.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented Mar, 25 1919 Application filedSeptember 19, 1917. Serial No. 192,123.

To all whomz't may concern:

Be it known that I, a citizen of the United States, residing atBaltimore, State of Maryland,have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Player-Piano Pneumatics, of which the following is aspecification.

The primary purpose of the invention 'is to simplify and cheapen theconstruction of pneumatics, such as generally embodied in musicalinstruments of the piano type having a manual, and enable the pneumaticsto be manufactured with a comparatively few number of parts, therebyreducing the chances for impairment of the action after short period ofservice. The invention consists in the construction of the strikerpneumatic and the valve cas- The invention further consists in the pro-'vision of separate valves for controlling the inflow of air to thestriker pneumatic and the outflow of air from the striker pneumatic tothe air space of the valve casing having direct communication with thewind trunk, and adjustable means between such valves to allow for anyvariations in material and construction, so as to insure proper seatingof the valves which is essential to a sensitive and quick response.

The invention furthermore consists of the novel features, details ofconstruction and combination of parts which hereinafter Wlll be morefully described and claimed;

WVhile the drawings illustrate a preferred embodiment of the invention,it is to be understood that in adapting the same to meet varyingconditions, changes in the form, proportion and minor details ofconstruction may be resorted to without departing from the nature of theinvention.

Referring to the drawings:

Figure 1 is a vertical central longitudinal section of a player pianopneumatic embodying the essential features of the invention;

CHARLES H. SPENQER" ited by Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the lowersection or base of the valve casing and striker pneumatic attachedthereto;

Fig. 3 is a detail view of thevalve lifter or follower;

Fig. 4 is a cross section of the valve casing on the line 4-4 of Fig. 1looking to the right.

Corresponding and like parts are referred to in the followingdescription, and indicated in the several views of the drawing by likereference characters.

As indicated most clearly in Fig. 1, the striker pneumatic and the valvecasing are formed separately, but for convenience, are illustrated asassembled in one structure. The strikerpneumatic is of bellowsformation, such as usually provided in player piano actions of thepneumatic type. As illustrated, the striker pneumatic comprises members1 and 2 and a connecting fabric 3 having the usual bellows folds; Apartition 1 is disposed between the members 1 and 2 and is attached atone end and along its edges to the fabric 3 andserves tohold the foldsdistended. The partition at is provided in its length with a pluralityof openings 5 to admit of equalization of the air throughout theinterior of .the pneumatic. An extension 6 is disposed at the swingingend of the member 2 for operating the piano action in a manner wellunderstood. The upward movement of the projection 6 is limmeans of astop 7 adjustably supported about in line with the member 1. As shown,the stop 7 consists of a set screw threaded into an extension of thevalve casing. However, it is to be understood that the stop 7 may besupported in any convenient way.

The valve casing comprises a lower section or base 8, and an uppersection, or cap 9. These parts 8 and 9 are formed separately andsecured, when assembled, by suitable fastening means, as screws 10.While the valve casing may be constructed of any suitable material, itis preferred to form the same of aluminum, which in practice, has beenfound to give the best results. The valve casing incloses two air spacesor chambers 11 and 12. The air space or chamber 11 is in communicationwith the atmosphere and with the striker pneumatic. The air space, orchamber 12, is in communication with an air trunk, or wind chest 13, and

with the air space, or chamber 11. To avoid confusion, the air space 11will be designated hereinafter as the striker chamber and the air space12 as the trunk chamber. The trunk chamber is formed partly in the cap 9and the base 8 and the striker chamber 11 is formed wholly in the cap.The inner ends of the chambers 11 and 12 overlap and are separated by apart of the cap 9 in which is formed an opening 14 which establishescommunication between the two chambers. A valve 15 disposed in thestriker chamber 11 closes downwardly upon the seat surrounding theopening 14 and is provided with a depending stem 16 which, inconjunction with the valve lifter, or follower 17, serves to guide thevalve 15 in its movements. A

second valve 18 is adapted to close an open- 7 ing 19 formed in the topof the striker chamber 11 and normally opens downwardly.

['The top of the striker chamber 11 prefering between the two valves.This stop proably consists of a cover plate 20 which is secured to thecap 9 by means of screws, or like fastenings 21. is readily had to theinterior of the striker, chamber to admit of proper adjustment of thevalves 15 and 18. An adjustable stop 22 is disposed between the valves15 and 18 and preferably consists of a set screw threaded into the valve18 with its head comvides for relative adjustment of the valves 15 and18 so as to insure quick and proper action thereof, which is essentialto sensitiveness in the operation of the action. The stop 22 alsoprovides for adjustment of the valve to compensate for any variationinmaterial or construction soas to secure proper cooperation between thevalves.

lVithin the trunk chamber 12 is disposed a diaphragm 23 consisting oftextile which has its edge portions clamped between the cap .9 and base8, the intermediate portion of the diaphragm being loose so as to movefreely under the influence of the charge of air pressure due to theopening and closing of the tracker bar openings. The diaphragm 23 isprovided preferably at a central point with -an .opening24 for theescape of air when the diaphragm assumes a normal-positi-on as beingactuated. ,The opening 24 is reinforced by a piece of suitable materialattached to the fabric, suchmaterial preferably consisting of a disk 25of mica. To insure a firm connection between the edges of thediaphragmand the parts ofthe valve casing between which. the same are clamped,the meetingfaces of the cap 9 and base 8 are formed with a matchingtongue and groove, preferably of V form, as indi- V -cated at 26. Thistongue and groove joint is arranged adjacent the walls of the chamber12.- A packing 27 is arranged between the cap 9 and base 8 to insure theformation By this means, access of a close joint'to prevent any escapeof air tions ofthe valve lifter are bent upwardly,

as indicated at 29 and 30. The bent end 30 terminates in an eye orsleeve 31, which receives'a pinv 32 by means of which. the valve lifteris pivotallyconnected at one end to the valve casing. The bent end 29 ispreferablyof o-gee form and its extremity is provided with an opening 33through which the stem 16 of the valve 15 passes. Vertical movement ofthe part 17 effects an unseating of the valve 15 and a closing of thevalve 18, with the result of operating the striker pneumatic to soundthe note as will .bedescribed in full hereinafter.

A conduit 34 communicates with thelower portion of the trunk chamber 12at a point belowtlize diaphragm 23, and this conduit is adapted to beconnected with the tracker bar in a manner well understood. Anhopening35 is formed in the lower wall of the striker chamber 11 andcomnnmicates with an opening 36.. formed :in the base 8. A nipple 37projects from the base 8 in line with the opening 36 and is adapted tomake connec tion withthe striker pneumatic. In the constructionillustrated, the nipple 37 is externally threaded and screws into anopening formed in the member 1 of the striker pneumatic, therebyservinginpart to connect the striker pneumatic and a valve casing. Ascrew or other suitable fastening 38 serves to connect the opposite endof the valve casing with the striker pneumatic.

The action is conpnectedto the wind trunk 13 in any manner and the upperportion of the trunk chamber has communication with the wind. trunk bymeans of .apassage 39 comprising registering openings formed in j theadjacent walls of the wind trunk 13 and valve casing. The air-is;exhausted from the wind trunk 13 in a manner well understood and thiscreates a partial vacuum in the upper portion offthe trunk chamber 12.This the diaphragm, and" as the diaplhragm 23- acts as a rises, itelevates the: art 17 whic follower, thereby lifting the valve 15 andclosing the valve 18. -At this instant, the air is exhausted-frond thebellows, or the striker pneumatic, such air passing through the openings36 and 35, the striker chamber 11, opening 14, upper portion of thestriker trunk 12, and into the wind trunk 13 through the passage 39.V-Theaexhausting of the air from the striker pneumatic causes the end ofthe member 2, provided withaprojectionb,

to move upward, thereby operating the piano action of the instrument ina manner well understood. When the conduit 34 is closed by animperforate portion of the music sheet passing over the opening in thetracker bar, the following action takes place:

The air below the diaphragm 23 escapes through the bleed opening at intothe upper portion of the trunk chamber 12, thereby causing the diaphragmto drop to the lower portion of the trunk chamber and with it thefollower, or valve lifter 17 and the valve 15 being no longer supported,drops upon its seat and closes the opening 14 and at the same instant,the valve 18 drops and uncovers the opening 19 and air passing into thestriker chamber 11 through the opening 19 enters the bellows of thestriker pneumatic and permits the outer end of the member 2 to drop,thereby restoring the parts to normal position, as indicated in Fig. 1of the drawing.

It is observed that the pneumatic is of such structure as to be disposedin av comparatively small space and in a single tier, and is thereforeof advantage when installing a player action in certain types of uprightinstruments having a limited restricted space.

What I claim is:

1. In a pneumatic action of the character set forth, a valve casingcomprising oppositely disposed striker and trunk chambers having innerportions overlapped, and having an opening in the wall separating theoverlapped portions of the chambers, the striker chamber having anopening in line with the opening formed in the separating wall betweenthe chambers, reversely disposed separate independently mounted valvesfor alternately closing said openings and an adjustable stop carried byone of such valves and disposed between the valves, one of said valvesbeing removable independently of the other valve.

2. In a. player piano pneumatic, a valve casing comprising a trunkchamber having an opening at one end, a valve for closing the opening, adiaphragm extending across the trunk chamber, with its edges secured tothe walls thereof and the intermediate portion being loose, and a valvelifter ar- SLld=.'V211V6 and having the opposite end pivoted t'othe'valve casing.

3. A player piano pneumatic comprising a valve casing embodyingseparable parts betweenwhich' is formed a trunk chamber,

one'ofwsuch'parts having an opening inarr endportion' thereof, a valvefOI'Cl'OSlIlgsuch opening, a diaphragm within the trunk chamber andhaving its edge portions clamped between the parts of the casing, and avalve lifter within the trunk chamber and pivoted at one end to the partof the valve casing provided with the valve controlled opening andhaving its opposite end in engagement with the said valve.

&. In a pneumatic of the character specified, a valve casing comprisinga base recessed to form a trunk chamber, a cap secured to the base andclosing the trunk chamber and having a striker chamber formed thereinand provided with openings leading to the atmosphere and to said trunkchamber, separate valves independently mounted within the strikerchamber for alternately closing the openings leading to the atmosphereand to the trunk chamber, one of said valves being removableindependently of the other, a diaphragm within the trunk chamber and avalve lifter within the trunk chamber adapted to be actuated by thediaphragm.

5. In a pneumatic of the character set forth, a valve casing comprisinga base and a. cap, a trunk chamber being formed partly in the cap andbase and the cap having a striker chamber formed wholly therein openingsbeing formed in opposite walls 0 the striker chamber leading to theatmosphere and to the trunk chamber respectively, valves disposed withinthe striker chamber for closing the openings thereof leading to theatmosphere and trunk cham ber, a diaphragm within the trunk chamber andhaving edge portions clamped between the cap and base and a valve lifterwithin the trunk chamber pivoted at one end to the valve casing andhaving its opposite end bent and engaging the stem of the valve closingthe opening between the striker and trunk chambers.

6. A pneumatic of the character specified comprising a base having anopening at one end and a recess in its opposite end, a cap secured tothe base and extending over the opening and recess thereof, said caphaving a recess opposite the received portion of the base and formingtherewith a trunk chamber and having a space in the end opposite the endof the base having the opening to provide a striker chamber which is incommunication with the trunk chamber through an opening, the strikerchamber hayingan within the striker chamber for anct'to the trunkchamber, a diaphragm Within the trunk chamber and having its edgeportions clamped between the-base and cap, and. a valve lifter pivotedat one endto the cap; and having its oppositeend bent 10 and a-perturedto receive a. stem of-the which intereommuniewtion is hadbetween thestriker and the trunk chambers.

In testimony whereof I iafliximy signature in the: presence 1 of twoWitnesses.-

CHARLES H. SPENCER. \Vitnesses WVALTER :E. SMITH, EMANUELI-DOUGHEBTY.

' Coni'ee .of thi supete nt may be obtained for five emits each, byaddressing' tlie 0omi1-issionef of- Patents,

WashingtomDLAOg

